I find it surprising that despite all the known affair rumors of Robert Dudley and Queen Elizabeth, Amy remains a loyal and thoughtful wife to Robert. She’s constantly there to support him and his role in the Royal Court. I feel that Amy mirrors the modern day soldier’s wife in many ways, mostly by showing patience and a strong fidelity to her spouse while he is beckoned to complete his duties. I’m certain that it was very difficult to play ignorant to what was being said about these two well-known figures in England. I admire that although Amy battled with the uneasiness of Robert’s adoration for Elizabeth, she stayed faithful to her marriage to him and didn’t attempt to also have an affair, which I would think could have been so easy for her to do.
Connecting the film Elizabeth to the novel The Virgin’s Lover and both of their sensual depictions of Robert and Elizabeth’s affair, I don’t understand how Amy could have had that level of strength and patience to stick around for Robert. I feel like this also brings up the question of why Amy stayed with Robert throughout this entire mess. Was it for rights and wealth, or was it truly because she loved him? And it makes me think about Elizabeth: How could such a strong and independent woman figure allow herself to be so wrapped up with Robert? I almost find a paradox in these female roles. Maybe Amy was stronger than we give her credit for since she continues to wait for Robert. And on the other hand, it is possible to marinate on the idea that Elizabeth’s stoic image was successfully broken by her weakness to Robert’s strong admiration of her.
